Soap bar holder



Nov. 4, 1969 w'. J. GAI-'.FNEY

soAP BAR HOLDER Filed Jan. 17, 196e United States Patent O 3,476,254SOAP BAR HOLDER William J. Gaifney, 7444 Blaisdell Ave. S., Minneapolis,Minn. 55423 Filed Jan. 17, 1968, Ser. No. 698,606

Int. Cl. A47f 7/00 U.S. Cl. 211-13 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREApparatus for holding three bars of soap having a pair of spaced apartend walls, each end wall having oppositely faced, somewhat I-shaped edgeportions and a generally horizontal serrated upper edge between the I-shaped portions. The end walls upper edge portions are connected by agenerally horizontally extending, serrated top member while therespective generally l-shaped edge portions of the end walls that arefaced in the` same direction are connected together by a generallyJ-shaped support member. The support members are integrally joined toopposite side edges of top member.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a holder forholding a plurality of soap bars or similar articles; and moreparticularly for supporting a pair of soap bars in oppositely upwardlyinclined positions and a third bar in a generally flat horizontalcondition.

The holder includes a pair of spaced brackets (end walls) each havingoppositely faced, somewhat J-shaped edge portions together with a topmember extending between the brackets. Support members that aregenerally J-shaped extend between the brackets whereby a pair of bars ofsoap may be supported that are shorter than the spacing between thebrackets.

In many households, as well as other places, one member of the householdmay prefer to use a different bar of soap (brand or otherwise) than theother members. Further, it is desirable that the holder may be merelyset on, for example, a wash basin, and the desired bar of soap easilygrasped and removed therefrom. In order to achieve the above as well asobtain other advantages, this invention has been made.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of thesoap bar holder of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view generally taken along the line and inthe direction of the arrows 2 2 of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional View generally taken along the line and inthe direction of the arrows 3--3 of FIGURES l and 2; said viewadditionally showing in dotted lines; three bars of soap being held bylthe holder.

Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus of this invention includesa pair of vertical parallel brackets (end walls) generally designated10. Each bracket has a somewhat I -shaped edge portion respectivelydesignated 11 and 12, a horizontally extending serrated upper edgeportion, 13 extending between the upper ends of edge portions 11 and 12,a reversely inclined edge portion 14 terminated at the opposite end ofportion 11, and a reversely inclined edge portion 15 terminating at theopposite end of portion 12. Each of portions 11, 12 includes a nearlyvertically extending surface 11a, 12a respectively, surfaces 11a, 12adiverging away from one another in a downward direction and from thevertical in the order of magnitude by only a few degrees. Portions 11,12 each include curved portions 11b, 12b respectively that at thejuncture with the respective portion 11a, 12a extends downwardly andoutwardly at relatively small radii of Mice curvature; and thence atmuch greater radii or curvature, extend upwardly in an outwardlydirection, but predominately outwardly. The vertical height H ofportions 11a, 12a is about 2 or 3 more times greater than the horizontaldimension W that portions 11b, 12b extend outwardly from portions 11a,12a respectively (see FIGURE 2). Further dimension W is considerablyless than the corresponding dimension of edge portion 13.

I oined to edge portions 13 of the brackets to extend therebetween is aserrated top member 20, the serrations thereof in longitudinal crosssection being of the same size and shape as those of brackets 10. Asomewhat J- shaped support member 21 having an upper surface of nearlythe same cross sectional configuration as that of edges 12 is joined tobrackets 10 adjacent edge portions 12 such that edge portions 12 projectoutwardly and upwardly relative member 21 to provide ribs. The uppertransverse edge of support member 21 is joined to the adjacent edge ofserrated member 20. Likewise, a second support member 22 of the sameconstruction as member 21, but oppositely faced, is joined to brackets10 adjacent edge portions 11 such that portions 11 effectively form aribbed continuation of the upper and outer surfaces of member 21. Thuseach of support members 21, 22 have nearly vertical wall portions thatdiverge slightly outwardly of one another in a downward direction, andthat in a horizontal plane extend perpendicular to the brackets. Furtherthese support members have lower wall portions curved in a mannercorresponding to the curvature of the respective edge 11b, 12b. Theupper transverse edge of member 22 is joined to the adjacent transverseedge of top member 20. The opposite transverse edge of member 22 isjoined to the depending ange 23 that extends between brackets 10adjacent edge portions 14 and is inclined downwardly and inwardly atabout the same angle. A depending flange 24 is likewise joined to thebrackets adjacent edge portions 15 but is inclined at an opposite anglerelative ange 23, the lower edges of bracket 10 and anges 23, 24 beingin the same plane to abut against a wash basin surface 25 or the surfaceof another object.

Advantageously, each of members 21, 22 has ribs 27, 28 respectively thatare located in planes parallel to brackets 10 to extend upwardly andoutwardly of said members the same distance that edge portions 11, 12respectively extend away from the corresponding nonribbed surfaces ofsaid members. The soap holder of the invention may be made as acompletely integrally formed unit, for example out of plastic material.In such a case, edge portions 14, 15 may be vertical or diverge slightlyin a downward direction as well as the flanges 23, 24.

If desired, a perforation may be provided in the lowermost portion `ofeach support member between each adjacent pair of ribs, and each rib andthe adjacent bracket for the drainage of water.

In using the apparatus of this invention, a rst bar of soap 30 ispositioned to have one of its longitudinally elongated edge surface bearagainst the upwardly and outwardly curved edge portions 11b and thecorresponding parts of ribs 28,'while an upper edge portion bearsagainst the upper parts of edge portions 11a and the correspondinggenerally vertical portions of ribs 2S. Thus, bar 30 is supported in aninclined condition with only small areas of the soap bearing against theholder whereby the bar is spaced from the surfaces of member 22.Likewise, a second bar of soap 32 is supported by edge portions 12a, 12band ribs 27 while a third bar 3-1 in a horizontal condition bearsagainst the upper parallel edges of the serrations of the top member 20.At the same time any one of the three bars may be readily grasped andremoved from the holder, the ribs spacing the upper portion of bars 30,

32 a small distance away from the respective support members tofacilitate grasping the soap bar.

It is to be understood that ribs 27, 28 may be eliminated; however, forsmall bars of soap, or larger bars that have been partially used, asubstantial surface area of the bar may abut against the surface of therespective support member and hinder drying of such an area of the soap.Further, by providing the support members, bars of soap shorter than thespacing between the brackets may be supported by the holder.

What is claimed is:

1. A holder for bars of soap or similar articles comprising a pair ofspaced end brackets having opposite first and second generallyvertically upwardly extending edge portions, a third edge portionextending adjacent to the lower part of the first edge portion andupwardly and predominately outwardly in a direction away from the secondedge portion, a fourth edge portion extending adjacent to the lower partof the second edge portion and upwardly and predominately outwardly in adirection away from the first edge portion, a first support memberhaving a first Wall portion extending between the brackets first edgeportions and extending upwardly at about the same angle as the firstedge portions and a second Wall portion extending between the bracketsthird edge portions and upwardly and predominately outwardly in adirection away from the brackets first edge portions, and a secondsupport member having a third wall portion extending between thebrackets Second edge portions and extending upwardly at about the sameangle as the second edge portions and a fourth wall portion extendingbetween the brackets fourth edge portions and upwardly and predominatelyoutwardly in a direction away from the brackets second edge portions,said first and third edge portions being adapted for abutting against afirst bar of soap and the second and fourth edge portions being adaptedfor abutting against a second bar of soap.

2. The holder of claim 1 further characterized in that each of thebrackets have a fifth upper edge portion at a substantially higherelevation then the third and fourth edge portions extending generallyhorizontally between the first and second edge portions, said fifth edgeportions being of horizontal lengths for supportingly engaging a thirdbar of soap.

3. The holder of claim 2 further characterized in that there is provideda fifth generally horizontally extending wall portion extending betweensaid fifth edge portions, said fifth wall portion being serrated andhaving serration peaks extending from one bracket to the other.

4. The holder of claim 2 further characterized in that said brackets areparallel, that said first and third edge portions are somewhat I-shapedin configuration and that said second and fourth edge portions are of asomewhat J- shaped configuration.

5. The holder of claim 4 further characterized in that said firstsupport member wall portions are integrally joined and somewhat I-shapedin cross section in a plane parallel to the planes of the brackets, andthat there is provided means integrally joined to said brackets andsupport members for supportingly engaging a third bar of soap.

l6. The holder of claim 5 further characterized in that each supportmember includes a somewhat J-shaped rib in a plane parallel to thebrackets and having a surface portion of substantially the same size andshape as the first and third edges and the second and fourth edgesrespectively of the brackets, and that the horizontal dimension of athird edge portion is substantially less than each of the correspondingdimensions of said means and the vertical dimension of said first edgeportion.

7. A holder for bars of soap or similar articles comprising a pair ofspaced end brackets having opposite first and second generallyvertically upwardly extending edge portions, a third edge portionextending adjacent to the lower part of the first edge portion andupwardly and predominately outwardly in a direction away from the secondedge portion and a fourth edge portion extending adjacent to the lowerpart of the second edge portion and upwardly and predominately outwardlyin a direction away from the first edge portion, and means connected tosaid brackets for retaining said brackets in substantially spaced,generally parallel relationship, said means including a member forsupporting a third bar of soap in a generally horizontal flat condition.

8. The holder of claim 7 further characterized in that said meansinclude a support member that is somewhat J- shaped in cross section ina plane parallel to said brackets joined to said first and third edgeportions.

9. The holder of claim 7 further characterized in that the brackets haveupper edge portions, and that the member for holding said third bar ofsoap is joined to said upper edge portions and is serrated in crosssection in a plane parallel to said brackets.

10. The holder of claim 7 further characterized in that said meansinclude somewhat J-shaped, oppositely faced support members extendingbetween said brackets, said support members have lower portionsextending upwardly and predominately outwardly of one another.

11. The holder of claim 10 fur-ther characterized in that said supportmembers include upper portions spaced from one another that diverge in adownward direction and have upper edges joined to said member forsupporting said third bar of soap.

12. The holder of claim 10 further characterized in that each brackethas a fifth and sixth terminal edge portion respectively joined to saidthird and fourth edge portion to extend to a substantially lowerelevation than said third and four-th edge portion, said fifth and sixthedge portions converging in a downward direction.

13. A holder for bars of soap or similar articles comprising a pair ofspaced end brackets each having opposite first and second generallyvertically upwardly extending edge portions, a third edge portionextending adjacent to the lower part of the first edge portion andupwardly and predominately outwardly in a direction away from the secondedge portion, a fourth edge portion extending adjacent to the lower partof the second edge portion and upwardly and predominately outwardly in adirection away from the first edge portion, an upper edge portionjoining the first and second edge portions, a fifth edge portion joinedto the third edge portion remote from the first edge portion andextending downwardly from the third edge portion and a sixth edgeportion joined to the fourth edge portion remote from the second edgeportion and extending downwardly from the fourth edge portion, saidupper edge portion being at a substantially higher elevation than thethird and fourth edge portions, and means connected to said brackets forretaining said brackets in substantially spaced, generally parallelrelationship, said first and third edge portions being adapted tosupport a first bar of soap, the second and fourth edge portions beingadapted to support a second bar of soap and the upper edge portionsbeing of horizontal lengths for supportingly engaging a third bar ofsoap.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further characterized in that said upperedge portions are serrated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 660,264 10./ 1900 Storm 211-42 X1,239,392 9/1917 Hessong 211-13 1,917,735 7/1933 Roberts Q11--132,175,753 10/ 1939 Guthmann 211-13 DAVID H` BRQWN, Primary Examiner

